Shakib, Tamim included in World XI against West Indies for T20 at Lord’s

Bangldesh aces Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan have been included in the World XI squad for a T20 against West Indies to raise funds for reconstruction of stadiums damaged in last year’s storms in the Caribbean.

The International Cricket Council confirmed the inclusion of the the duo in the squad on Monday.

Besides opening batsman Tamim and top all-rounder Shakib, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera, and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan have been drafted in the World XI with England’s Eoin Morgan as the captain for the May 31 match at the Lord’s.

It quoted Tamim as saying, “Cricket is a sport which unites people, bridges gaps, and in which players and teams support each other.

“This match is a testament to this statement and I am delighted to have been chosen to once again represent the ICC World XI for a cause which will only make cricket a bigger and better sport,” he added.

Tamim also played for the World XI side in the match against Pakistan in Lahore in September last year to bring normalcy to international cricket in the country.

The ICC said more big names were likely to be confirmed in the coming days for the World XI side.

The defending world T20 champions West Indies feature stars like Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Samuel Badree and Andre Russell, with Carlos Brathwaite as the skipper.